Strain-applying device for fishing rods



2 2 EN. 3 l 6, l Y E H T A M c. L

Jan. 4, 1927.

STRAIN APPLYING DEVICE FOR FISHING' RODS F'led June 29. 1926 Patented Jan. 4.-, 1927.

Il. i.

rares' LOUIS C. MATHEY, OF NASHVXLLE, TENNESSEE.

Application filed June 29,

This invention relates to certain improvements on the strain applying devices for iishing rods embodied in my pending application Serial No. 116,627, tiled June 17, 1926.

ln this application there was illustrated a strain applying device for fishing rods comprising a length of elastic band attached at its rear end to the butt of a iishing rod and at its forward end to a line so that as strain was applied to the line by a iish, the elastic band would expand and thus exert a constant pulling strain upon the fish, keeping the line taut at all times.

The general object of the present invention is to provide means whereby the elastic element may be disposed entirely within the fishing rod. that is within the butt thereof instead of being applied to the exterior of the fishing rod as in my pending application, and provide means whereby the elastic element may be detachablyengaged with the butt of the rod.

A further object is to so support the elastic element that the thumb of the lisherman n may be applied to it at any time to limit its further expansion, thus permitting` the more easy landing of a fish than would otherwise be possible and the convenient handling of the rod and line.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is an elevation of a fishing rod with my attachment applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is an elevation taken at right angles to Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of the butt, the butt being partly in section and the header being shown in section;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the butt.

Referring to these drawings designates a fishing pole of any suitable construction and having the butt 11. lt will be understood that the 'fishing pole shown is purely illustrative and it may have any desired detail. rEhe butt 11 as illustrated in Figure 3, is hollow and formed with a longitudinally extending slot 12. disposed over which slot is the plate 13 which may be ot metal or any suitable material, this plate in turn being vformed with a longitudinally extending slot 1926. Serial no. 119,451.

15. It will be seen from Figure 3 that the plate 13 has undercut ends and is solidly fitted in the butt and supported against accidental. movement.

Mounted in the slot of the plate 13 is a grooved roller 16 and disposed within the butt rearward of the slot and beneath the plate 13 is a yoke 17 carrying a grooved roller 18 as shown in Figure 4. Passing over the roller 16 and under the roller 18 is an elastic band or element19 which is preferably circular in cross section and its rear end is rigidly connected to an anchoring block 2O which may be made of hard rubber or any other suitable material of this character. The rear end of the butt 11 is provided with a ferrule 21 oi' metal which has an exteriorly screw-threaded ila-nge 22. The block is reduced in diameter at its forward end to lit within this 'flange 22 and the block or anchor is held in place by a cap 23 of metal which has screw-threaded engagement with the screw-threaded flange 22.

The forward end ot' the elastic element 19 engages a rod-like member 24 which I have termed a header and which may be made of metal, hard rubber or other suitable material, this header being cleft from its rear edge forward and the elastic element 19 being tapered at its forward end and inserted in said cleft and vulcanizech rit eted,V cemented or otherwise rmly attached thereto. An eye 25 is attached to the forward pointed end of the header, this eye being shown with a corrugated shank 26 embedded in the header. A fishing line 27 is attached to this eye.

Mounted upon the butt forward of the plate 13 is a guide 28 illustrated as approximately triangular in cross section and having an opening 29 through which the header 24 passes. It will be understood that this member 28 acts as a guide not only for the header but for the rubber element- 19Vwhen the latter is expanded.

1n the use of this device, assuming that a iish has struck, the line will be drawn outward under the strain and this will cause the elastic element 19 to expand. the expansion depending upon the strength or cross sectional area of the band 19.r the length thereof, and the pounds `oit" pull exerted by the fish. It is intended that the band 19 shall expand under pull to a very considerable degree but that when the strain isrelieved the elastic band shall contract to approximately the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Ot course, it will be understood as illustrated in my prior application, that the rod will be provided with guides along its length through which the header 2st and the elastic band 19 may pass as the elastic band is expanded.

Oneof the principal objects of the present construction is that the fisherman by pressure of his thumb or finger upon the elastic element 19, at the pulley 1G for instance, may stop any further expansion oi the elastic element or prevent the elastic element from expanding practically at all. Thus, if it is desired that the elastic element shall work freely, no pressure is exerted upon the elastic element, but it at any time it be desired to put a strong pull upon the fish as contradistinguished from a yielding pull, the fisherman may press against the elastic element at any place 'forward of or at the pulley 16 and stop the further expansion of the elastic element. This is particularly valuable where the fish has become so weak through his struggles that the elastic band has contracted nearly to its tull extent and it is desired to land the fish.

It will be seen that by providing an anchoring member 20 disposed within the butt and held in place by the cap 23, it is an easy1 matter to at any time remove and replace the elastic band and an easy matter to retain the elastic element entirely within the butt when the rod is disjointed and then the elastic band may be readily pulled. out through the slot 15 and guided over the pulley 16 and attached to a line. lt is to be noted that the yoke 17 consists of two lateral members which are laterally bent at their ends remote from the pulley 18` these lateral members acting as guides preventing the elastic member, when it is slack` from getting to one side of the pulley so that when strain is applied thereto the elastic member will not bear against the pulley 18. I design that the elastic member shall be made in different weights and coefiicients of elasticity so that one elastic member may be interchanged :for another depending upon the fish which it is designed to be caught. This interchange is readily accomplished by taking ofi' the cap 23 and removing the anchoring member 2O with this elastic member 19 through the aperture in the ferrule. A new or different elastic member may then be easily put in place, threaded over the pulleys 16 and 18 and through the guide 2S. lt is reiterated that l do not wish to be limited to any particular form ot rod or butt and that the device may be modifled in many ways without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

ll claim 1. rlhe combination with a fishing rod having a hollow portion, of an elastic member having` one end disposed within the hollow portion of the rod and anchored thereto, the other end extending` upon the exterior of the fishing rod, and a pulley guiding the elastic member to the outer surface ot the fishing rod, the elastic member having means on one end wherebyit may be connected to a fishing line.

2. rlhe combination with a fishing rod having a hollow portion, ot an elastic member having one end disposed within the hollow portion of the rod and anchored thereto, the other end extending upon the exterior ot the fishing rod, a pulley guiding the elastic member to the outer surface of the fishing rod, the elastic member having attached to its t'ree end a header of hard material and to which the fishing line may be attached, the forward extremity of the header being pointed.

3. The combination with a fishing rod having a hollow portion, of an elastic member having one end disposed within the hollow portion oi the rod and anchored thereto, the other end extending upon the exterior of the fishing rod, a pulley guiding the elastic member to the outer surface of the lishing rod, the elast-ic member having attached to its free end a header of hard material and to which the fishing line may be attached, the header being longitudinally cleft and the free end of the elastic element being inserted in and rigidly secured to said cleft portion of the header.

4. The combination with a fishing rod having a hollow portion, of an elastic element anchored at one end within the hollow p0rtion of the rod, the wall of the hollow portion being slotted and there being a pulley disposed adjacent said slot over which the elastic element passes, and a rigid member attached to the free extremity of the elastic member and adapted to be connected to a shing line.

5. The combination with a fishing rod having a hollow portion, of an elastic member having one enddisposed within the hollow portion, an anchor detachably engaged with the hollow portion of' the rod and with which anchoring member the elastic member is engaged, the wall of the hollovi7 portion having a slot through which the elastic member passes, a pulley mounted in said slot and over which the elastic member passes, and a rigid member firmly attached to the free end of the elastic member and constituting means for the attachment of a fishing line.

6. The combination with a fishing rod having a. hollow butt, of an anchoring member detachably engaged with the end of the butt, an elastic member rigidly engaged with said anchoring member and extending longitudinally through the butt, the butt having a longitudinally extending slot through which the elastic member passes, a pulley disposed within the butt rearward of said slot, a pulley disposed in said slot adjacent the forward end thereof, the elastic member passing beneath the iirst named pulley and over the second named pulley, and means for connecting a iishing line to the tree end of the elastic member.

7. The combination with a ishing rod having a hollow butt, of an anchoring member detaehably engaged with the end of the butt, an elastic member rigidly engaged with said anchoring member and extending longitudif ley disposed within said slot adjacent the forward end thereof, the elastic member passing beneath the irst named pulley and over the second named pulley, and a header oi' rigid material rigidly engaged at its rear v end with the free end of the elastic member,

the forward end of the header being pointed and having an eye for the attachment of a yiishing line.

8. The combination with a fishing rod having a hollow butt and a terrule mounted upon the butt and exteriorly screw-threaded, of an anchoring member fitting against the end o-In the butt, a cap Iitting over the anchoring member and engaging the errule, an elastic member attached to the anchoring member, the hollow butt being slotted to permit the emergence of the elastic member, guide pulleys over which the elastic member passes to the exterior of the butt, and means for connecting the elastic member to a fishing line.

9. The combination with a l'ishing rod having a. hollow portion, of an elastic member having one end disposed within the hollow portion ot the rod and anchored thereto, and the other end extending through the hollow portion and out upon the exterior of the rod, said elastic member having means on its free end whereby it may be connected to a shing line.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

LOUIS C. MATHEY. 

